[b]GM Post:[/b] Sequestered in the foremost wagon, Lyneesi Greenwind had awoken when the caravan pulled to a halt and some of the riding dogs started wining. It wasn't but a few moments until she sensed a feeling of alarm through the empathic link she shared with her familiar, Meanbeak. The spry blonde halfling scurried over crates of fabric and barrels of pipeweed, arming herself with her spyglass as she went to peek out from a flap woven in the wagon's canvas covering. She watched her familiar's movements from afar, as the crow flew in in a figure eight above a nearby hill. She immediately hastened out of the wagon beside its driver, to cast a cantrip that would enable her to whisper a message to her brother, Weskus, who was seated about thirty yards ahead of her, with the group of riding dogs that had stayed with the caravan.

"What is happening? I think Meanbeak has spotted hidden trouble ahead." Lyneesi whispered to him. "I can see a large minotaur on the far side of the bend. Seems the marshal is busy talking to him, or her... I can't tell from here." Weskus whispered back with a start. He then spoke to the others beside him without turning his head. "My sister's familiar might have spotted something we haven't seen yet. Signal the others behind us to ready their weapons, Vandru. The comparatively large, muscular male halfling with the clean shaven and tattooed head, nodded in response and relayed hand signals to the caravan drivers to ready their weapons.

Weskus and Vandru, the contingent of dog riders about them, and the caravan that was still parked on the far side of the hill that blinded the bend in the road, armed themselves for the worst, while the marshal Karlvar Aerostone and the foremost contingent of dog riders who could overhear his conversation with Sharphorn, scanned the nearby hills, coniferous trees and exposed rock formations to see if they could find those friends the minotaur spoke of. After they witnessed the Sharphorn's display of strength, the marshal replied steadily, "Sounds reasonable to me. How many friends are we talking about?"